Month: May 2016

The U.S. dollar used to be backed by gold. Anyone could exchange their paper currency for a certain amount of gold (e.g. $35 per ounce). That changed on August 15, 1971 when President Nixon ended convertibility by “closing the gold window”.

Since 1971, the U.S. dollar has not been backed by gold and it has fallen to less than 17 cents in 1971 dollar terms. One dollar today will buy only 17 cents worth of “stuff” versus one dollar worth of “stuff” Read More »

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